ABIGAIL'S PARTY

devised by

Mike Leigh

CAST

Beverly          Meg Stratford

Laurence       Jim Cottee

Angela           Kathy Smith

Tony              Chris Avery

Susan            Mary Cole

May 1982

Directed by Laurie Tunbridge

    Beverly and her husband Laurence hold a drinks party for their neighbours Tony, Angela and Susan, whose fifteen-year-old daughter Abigail is holding a party at home.

    The gathering starts off in a stiff, insensitive, British-middle-class way however as the alcohol takes effect, Beverly flirts more and more overtly with Tony, as Laurence sits impotently by.

    After a tirade about art, Laurence suffers a fatal heart attack. Within this simple framework, all of the obsessions, prejudices, fears and petty competitiveness of the protagonists are ruthlessly exposed.